Eddie Sea - Starz - 2010 - Music Of The Sea

No soon as Eddie Sea delivers us a massively popular album in the form of "Moon City" does he now deliver the superb follow-up set "Starz". It has to be said that this CD excels, and if you especially loved his "India" track then you are going to get plugged into this set of grooves extremely quickly. This album sees Eddie return to the 1970s for inspiration and he takes a trip down memory lane to harness his creative juices to lay down this platter of seductive, sexy and soulful sounds. Much of this CD sees real instrumentation matched to the superb vocal talents of Shauntia Toussaint, and there is also input from bassist Aaron Mills from Cameo as well as Taj Salon on vocals. The vast majority of this CD can be put on and left to play. There is little to find fault with, and Shauntia really has that something. Oh yes! It's called soul! This Lady has a real powerhouse of emotion welling up in her and she likes to let this slip on more than one or two songs!

The CD starts, it has to be said, as it means to go on. The ghost of Leon Haywood's "I Wanna Do Something Freaky To You" on the splendourous "Enjoy The Times" certainly haunts the bassline, and the flow of the song is unashamedly 1970s. Yet it is very much today at the same time. As far as this jaded, world-weary, tired hack is concerned the CD is essential to purchase for this song alone. Thankfully there is much more to enjoy! "Love And Desire" with an almost discordant synth line is superb. The rhodes keyboards and funky beat is equal only to the impassioned vocals from Shauntia Toussaint. This really has a touch of the very late 70s and deserves strong airplay. The sexiness of "Natural Feelings" is boosted by a great acoustic guitar and real live drum rolls. If you like atmosphere, then this certainly has it in abundance. I must draw you away from here to another toothsome delight - "Living In A World Of Fantasy" - crammed with 70s keys and a pretty Chaka Khan kind of approach. Nice horns too! This is another great set to kick-start your collecting and listening pleasure in 2010.

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/eddie-seas-starz/id348015249

Eddie Sea - Unleashes Moon City - 2009 - Music Of The Sea Records

2009 continues undaunted with more strong, strong soul music. Eddie "Sea" Caldwell, a multi-talented writer, arranger and producer has compiled an very interesting and eclectic set of songs that will appeal to everyone - and I mean everyone! "Moon City" has elements of Neo-Soul, R&B, Soul, Rock, Latin, Acoustic, Funk, Hip Hop, and World Music all fused into one album! This is no mean feat and I know that some of you may baulk at a set that appears to be so diverse, yet I can honestly guarantee you that you will be clamoring to buy this CD by a few moments into track one, let alone the rest! Please head over to iTunes or musicofthesea.com and take a listen for yourself and hear exactly what i mean! Track one literally blew me away. A sublime slice of quality 2009 soul music delivered by the awesome vocalist in the vein of Ruscola, Aaron Sledge, and the song is called "India" - NOT the same as Eric Benét's song from his 2005 set, "Hurricane", but a fresh new song equally as great. This has a lot of clout and some keys and synths to die for. Meaty, and full of goodness for the soul. I call this an irresistible groove which could do some serious action on the more discerning dancefloors! keys...a great story to the song, too. This is a song that I would buy the CD for...the keys are almost reminiscent of, say, Ramsey Lewis! Yes, it is that good!

The Golden Child is an EXCELLENT vocalist and he reminds me slightly of J C Chavez. Anyhow, he offers the superb "Fire" and the rap by Rio does NOT ruin the flow at all. The keys and the vibe is simply superb. "Underwater Paradise" is another winner and thanks goes, again, to the superb Track 2 continues the true elegance that is offered here...Marilyn Hearnes gives us the BRILLIANT "Sister" featuring Shauntia Toussaint. Check out THOSE summery 80s good timesShauntiaToussaint who really goes for the vocals in a big way and reminds me slightly of a more restrained and less high pitched Susaye Green. Oh yes, this is what we want to hear! Add the hi-hat groove of "Changing People" and jazzy vocal that she expertly deploys then what picture builds up here is one of a super-talented singer!!!! Add the eclectic, Eastern sounds on here with BIG drums, sitar and bells and the mix is given an even more exotic, world feel - pretty much in the Xantoné Blacq mode! Eddie's CD really is a corker and one I heartily recommend!

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe